Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-03-30
MODERN SAVAGES.
Some Curious Festivities of Barbarous
and Semi-Civlized Races

Sir John Lubbock, who is high au-
thority on the subject of savage races,
recently made an interesting address,
in which he declared that the savage
races of to-day, in many parts of the
world, are making progress toward
civilization. He pointed out, among
other facts, that some of the lowest
races are found to have great num-
Der of rules and customs, which must
have grown up in the process Of time,
and which prove that these races have
advanced from more completely saw
age state. The general inference that
he draws is that all mankind, even in
it's lowest branches, is rising gradually
to higher degree of intelligence.
Some interesting facts about savages
were instanced to make good the argu-
ment. The lowest and most barbarous
race in the world is supposed to be
tribe called the "Bosjesmans,
branch of the Hottentots. 1t is said of
them that instead of washing, they
cover their bodies all over with thick
layers of dirty grease. 1t was of this
race that DR.. Livingstone, the famous
African traveller, said: ga Bosiesman,
certainly in his mien and all his ges-
lures, has much more resemblance to
an ape than a man."
At the other extreme are the Maoris
of New Zealand, who are probably the
most intelligent and well-mannered
of modern savages. They have. given
up cannibalism, have adopted the
European dress, are submissive to law,
and, when engaged in war, use the
milder methods of Christian warfare.
One of the worst races is that of the
Australian natives, who seem incapa-
bic of receiving any considerable de-
gree Of civilization. They have been
in contact with the English settlers for
a century, and yet have learned moth
ing from them but horseback riding
and a taste for strong drink.
Some features of barbarous and semi
civilized races, noted by Sir John Lub-
book, are very curious. For instance.
the Australians, New Zealanders,
Esquimaux and other savage people,
are totally ignorant of the universal
European custom of saluting with Il
kiss. The different ways of showing
reverence for a superior are amusing.
The Malay, when in presence of one
whom he regards as above him, imme-
diately sits down; the South Africans
turn their backs upon their betters
some of the Hindoo tribes reveal their
respect by putting the thumb to the
end of the nose, and wriggling the
other fingers. Our boy-readers know
whether or not they employ this GEES
ture to signify respect.
Sir John Lubbock tells us that in
many points the marriage customs of
savages bear resemblance to those of
the civilized races. A wife, among all
races, was IN early times a captive of
war and from this arose the custom of
marriage by capture. "All over the
world" he says, sit was found that,
even after friendly arrangements had
been made between the parents of the
happy couple, the bridegroom, always
made some pretense of carrying off his
bride; and probably to the same origin
as this ceremony may be traced the
custom of lifting the bride over the
doorstep, which occurred among the
Romans and other nations
The religious life and beliefs of many
savage races are hard to understand.
These people seem to think that all
things that move are endowed with
life; and so believe that animals,
water, flowers and other moving things
have spirits, like men. THE worship
of animals, - says Sir John, sis found
widely existing over the whole world
and this worship might possibly be
traced to the common habit of calling
families after animals-which easily led
to a belief that families were related to,
or descended from, the animals whose
names they bore and ultimately this
grew into a worship"
Savage races are found to be orig
inally temperate; but as soon as they
come into contact with civilized men,
and learn the effects of strong drink,
they use it to excess and rapidly be-
come drunkards. Some savage peoples
have been destroyed by this terrible
vice Youths Companion.